300 – “I Feel Like…” – The Hidden Difference Between Thoughts and Feelings

How often do we say “I feel like…” – but what we’re actually expressing is a thought, an opinion, or a judgment?

In this live conversation, my husband Rabbi Yonasan Reiser and I sat down to explore the deeper meaning behind that common phrase. We unpacked the subtle but powerful difference between thoughts and feelings, and why this distinction matters so much in our relationships, our self-awareness, and even our avodas Hashem.

Topics we touched on include:
– Why it feels safer to say “I feel like…” instead of naming what we actually feel
– The role of vulnerability in honest communication
– A Shabbos story that surprised me with just how many feelings were tangled inside
– How unmet needs show up in relationships, especially between men and women
– What it means to receive and give from a place of wholeness, through the lens of the Kabbalistic concepts of mekabel and mashpia
– Why having the right words for our emotions can create real relief and connection
– And how using Nonviolent Communication in our marriage gave us a shared language to express what’s really going on beneath the surface

Whether you’re new to this kind of emotional work or deep in it, we hope this conversation brings more clarity, self-compassion, and maybe even new language to help you feel heard, by yourself and the people you love.